SINGAPORE: On the Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025, which measures the health of the 178 economies, Singapore took the number two spot, just behind Taiwan.

The index is published each year by Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at The Johns Hopkins University, who is also known as the “money doctor” for his expertise in using economic data from the Economist Intelligence Unit, International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook, and other sources, to take the “temperature” of economies to see how “miserable” or “healthy” each one is.

Prof Hanke’s index is based on the sum of an economy’s unemployment rate at the end of the year (multiplied by two), plus inflation and bank-lending rates. From this figure, the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita is deducted.

Taiwan, which clinched first place for the second year in a row, scored 2.1159, with unemployment as the major contributing factor for its score. Singapore followed with a score of 2.5939, and the lending rate was listed as the city-state’s major contributing factor.

Another Asian economy, Thailand, came in third (3.1417), followed by Ireland (5.3470) and Côte d’Ivoire (6.2886).

Taiwan continues to flourish, and its real GDP growth per capita of 9.2% is what is behind its health. This is driven by the high demand for Taiwan’s semiconductors and artificial intelligence hardware. Meanwhile, it has low unemployment and inflation at 3.3% and 1.3% respectively, with a bank-lending rate at 3.3%.

As for the runner-up, “Singapore is a perennial contender at the happiest end of the HAMI, and 2025 is no exception. With a score of 2.6, Singapore’s performance reflects near-full employment at 2.0% unemployment, well-anchored inflation at 1.2%, and solid GDP growth of 4.3% per capita,” Prof Hanke wrote.

World’s most miserable

At the bottom three, the most miserable economies are Turkey (100.9610), Sudan (225.3674), and Venezuela (556.4916).

Prof Hanke noted that Venezuela’s score is among the highest ever recorded on the index, and is largely due to “an accelerating collapse” brought about by the 2024 elections, which saw Nicolás Maduro’s return to power, sanctions that cut off oil revenues, and the free fall of its currencies. 

Prices in Venezuela rose by a staggering 475.3% in 2025, while unemployment increased to 35.1%.

However, with the forced removal of Mr Maduro on Jan 3, it remains to be seen how Venezuela’s fortunes will change. /TISG

Read also: Rising tensions and energy risks could push global economy towards recession: IMF 

This article (Singapore ranked 2nd happiest economy in 2025, with Taiwan taking top spot) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Tan Kiat How took to Instagram over the weekend to clarify a particular health issue at Bedok and encouraged the public to visit 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, saying that there are no tuberculosis (TB) cases among the market staff, Heartbeat@Bedok, and at the Singapore Pools Bedok.

Mr Tan, an East Coast Member of Parliament (MP) since 2020, is a Senior Minister of State for Health as well as for Digital Development and Information.

Many people may be wary of visiting the area after the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) announced on Thursday (April 30) that mandatory tuberculosis screening will be carried out for tenants and workers of the three locations. Investigations showed that there have been 13 genetically similar cases across three clusters between January 2023 and February 2026.

The MP said in his May 4 (Sunday) video that he had just brought food for his family at 216 Market, which they would have for dinner that night.

“It’s very sad because many hawkers told me that they had prepared the whole day, but because nobody came, they have to throw all the food away, so I want to support them,” he said.

Mr Tan underlined that the 13 recently reported cases had not sprang up overnight but had been detected over the last three years. Additionally, the people who had gotten infected with TB are residents living around the area, some of whom don’t even live in Bedok but in other parts of Singapore.

“But they came to Bedok, they came to Heartbeat Centre, to the hawker centre,” and because they had come to a common area, “we wanted to have a precaution to test all our employees and hawkers,” he added.

He also cleared up the misconception that a person can contract TB by sharing a meal or having a conversation with someone.

“Actually, you require prolonged contact to get TB. Coming here for a meal like me, having a conversation with friends and hawkers, you won’t get TB,” he added, telling people not to worry and to come and support the hawkers at 216 Market.

“They hope to get your support,” Mr Tan said, waving his armful of plastic bags containing food from different stalls in the area.

Misunderstanding over the situation caused some hawkers to have fewer customers over the past few days, he wrote in the caption, adding, “For most of us, daily routines like having a meal can continue as usual. If you’re nearby, do drop by. Your usual kopi and meals are still here.” /TISG

Read also: TB Cases Climb in Malaysia — Here’s Why It Matters

This article (Tan Kiat How urges public to visit Bedok hawker centre, says no TB among staff) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who lied to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) concerning the status of the woman from Vietnam he intended to marry has been given a jail sentence of four months and six weeks.

As it turns out, he knew that the woman was still married when he married her in October 2013 in Singapore but submitted false information to the ICA in 2014 and 2015 when he applied for the woman’s permanent residency and long-term visit pass.

The truth came out only late last year, when the woman’s previous husband applied for a student pass for their son, according to a report in Lianhe Zaobao. The application led to the discovery that the woman was still married when she and the Singaporean man wed in 2013.

It added that the woman, who only got divorced from her former husband in 2021, actually became a citizen of Singapore in 2023.

After investigations were carried out, the Singaporean man, now 37, was charged with five counts, which include inciting another person to commit bigamy, providing false information to the ICA under immigration laws, providing false information to facilitate marriage under the Women’s Charter, and providing false information to assist another person in applying for citizenship.

The man pleaded guilty to three of the five charges, and the judge considered the remaining charges for his sentencing.

Neither the man nor the woman has been publicly named.

The couple has two children, aged 7 and 9. The judge on the case pointed out that these children will bear the label “illegitimate children” because of their parents’ actions, which will end up causing the children inconveniences.

The State Courts judge also underlined the seriousness of this particular case due to potential wider impacts, as the ICA may need to impose more stringent standards for those who wish to apply for Singapore citizenship in the future.

Even if the woman had obtained a divorce from her ex-husband in 2021, this fact did not mitigate how serious the offence is.

While the consequences the Singaporean man has received for his crime, the woman’s outcome has not been made known. /TISG

Read also: SG man & Vietnamese wife each fined S$3,500 for lying to ICA about living together; man charged woman S$1K monthly marriage fee

This article (Singapore man who married already-wedded Vietnamese woman to get 4 months, 6 weeks’ jail) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: On Saturday, Malaysia woke up to a horrible crime after a girl was found after midnight in a pool of blood and with 61 stab wounds.

The story became more dramatic after it was revealed that she was not killed in a car accident, and later her body was placed on the road in Kampung Simah, Ketereh, in the state of Kelantan, the most conservative state in Malaysia.

However, the authorities moved swiftly, arresting four people: an elderly couple and two young men. The elderly couple, the boyfriend’s parents—a 66-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman—have been released on bail, but the two young men are still in custody.

Now, we are being told that it is a story of rage and jealousy that led to the gruesome murder of this young woman, a college student of 19.

Kelantan police chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat said investigators suspect the victim was stabbed to death by her 19-year-old boyfriend, who allegedly believed she was having an affair, the New Straits Times reported.

“Initial investigations showed that an argument broke out between the victim and the suspect, which led to her death. She is believed to have been stabbed while inside the suspect’s car,” the senior policeman was quoted as saying.

The boyfriend, identified as the main suspect, was arrested on Saturday alongside another youth believed to be a friend of the victim.

The victim, who hails from Perak, had gone out for a meal with the two suspects.

Sources said the victim, who lived in a condominium, first went out during the day with one suspect in a Honda City before being sent back home.

“Later that night, she reportedly went out again with the second suspect, believed to be the main perpetrator and also a student at a Vocational College, in a Perodua Bezza,” the source to the Malay-language daily Berita Harian.

Local media had earlier identified the victim as Nurfisya Zulkifly, who had just returned to her Ketereh college campus to start a new semester a week ago.

It is said she managed to post a WhatsApp story at 11 pm. She posted a photo of food before she was killed.

This article (Malaysia: 61 stabs wounds and a relationship that ends with murder) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament (MP) from the Workers’ Party (WP) will be raising questions this week in Parliament about the effectiveness of tackling bullying in schools, in light of the new measures addressing the issue announced by the Ministry of Education last month. 

On April 15, the Ministry of Education (MOE) published nine key recommendations from its Comprehensive Action Review Against Bullying, which had been carried out to strengthen the efforts to better address hurtful behaviour and bullying in schools. The recommendations, which are set for implementation next year, include detention, suspension, and caning for older boys.

There have been a number of concerning incidents of bullying in recent years, such as the incident at Sengkang Green Primary School, where a nine-year-old student and her mother were threatened by the girl’s classmate.

Ministry of Education (MOE)

Annex A – Key Recommendations from MOE Comprehensive Action Review against Bullying

MOE said that schools will receive additional needs-based funding to hire roles such as youth workers, pastoral care officers, and parent liaison officers. These staff members will help manage student issues and reduce the load on teachers. At the same time, schools will receive better guidelines on managing bullying cases. This includes how quickly to inform parents, how to ensure student safety, and how to apply discipline and counselling consistently.

Questions from WP MPs

During the sessions from May 5 to 7, several WP MPs will be raising questions about the MOE’s recommendations, including those that ask for clarity concerning how MOE will make sure the recommended measures would not conflict with creating a school culture that is “restorative,” as well as the particular safeguards to be put in place for protecting students who have mental health vulnerabilities.

Sengkang MPs He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, Jamus Lim, and Abdul Muhaimin, as well as Non-constituency MP Eileen Chong, will be asking the following:

• Whether the standardisation of caning is based on established research, and if the Ministry has evaluated its effectiveness in reducing repeated bullying behaviour

• If there are specific safeguards in place to ensure disciplinary measures are student-centred, and how a student’s special educational needs (SEN) or mental health are weighed

• How does caning for first-time offenders align with the stated goal of a restorative school culture, and what is the data on bullying recidivism rates

• What recourse do students and parents have if they disagree with a school’s findings, and what specific methodology will be used to track the effectiveness of these new measures

The WP MPs last asked questions in Parliament concerning bullying in September, the month after the Sengkang Green Primary incident came to light. /TISG

Read also: WP to raise questions  in Parliament about jobs for new grads, public transport, bullying

This article (WP MPs to ask in Parliament about impact of stricter penalties on school bullies) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Rafizi Ramli, a former economy minister, once very close to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, made the most explosive remarks about the crisis that has hit the state of Negeri Sembilan, saying it is part of a plan by one of Anwar’s allies in the Madani government to press for fresh general elections in Malaysia.

Ramli, who arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya this morning to face graft-busters on the government’s collaboration with UK-based chip design company Arm Holdings, did not mince his words against United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) or Barisan Nasional (BN) in a podcast.

The outspoken Member of the House of Representatives who resigned as economy minister last year was seen entering the anti-graft agency’s compound at about 9:45 a.m., ahead of his scheduled 10 a.m. appearance. Ramli might be charged for his role in the ARM Holdings deal soon.

Recently, Ramli made several accusations of corruption and share manipulation of some companies against Anwar and people close to the Malaysian regime.

On the Negeri Sembilan crisis, he said: “The controversy in Negeri Sembilan is UMNO’s grand strategy to build a wave of support similar to what happened in the previous Malacca and Johor state elections.”

“The aim is to force Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election,” he speculated in the latest episode of his podcast “Yang Berhenti Menteri.”

BN chalked up significant victories in the Malacca and Johor state polls that took place in 2021 and 2022. While Anwar’s party, PKR, is an ally in the Negeri Sembilan state government, it did not join the Malacca state government, which is dominated by the UMNO-BN.

To back his theory that UMNO is pushing for fresh elections, Ramli said it is using the same strategy it used in the 2021 and 2022 state polls in the hope that they can build a big wave in their favour.

“Using the same strategy now, (they want to) build a big wave. That will force Anwar to hold an early general election, and UMNO will mop up seats all over Malaysia,” he said, adding, “The plan involves holding the election in October together with polls in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor.”

Bloomberg has also reported that Anwar is allegedly in the early stages of considering holding a general election in the third quarter of this year.

Anwar has denied that he is calling for snap polls this year, saying there is still time for an election.

Last week, 14 UMNO state assemblypersons pulled their support for the PKR head of the state government. Reports had it that the Umno politicians would join with the opposition Perikatan Nasional to form a new state government in Negeri Sembilan.

However, with Anwar’s and UMNO leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s intervention, plans to remove the chief minister from power by the 14 assemblypersons have been foiled.

This article (Crisis in small state near KL is UMNO’s way to seek early General Election) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A woman who ordered a huge takeout amounting to more than S$130 was shocked when the deliveryman demanded a S$10 tip, claiming that the order was ‘too big.’ More so, the deliveryman threatened to cancel the order if she did not give the tip. 

A 29-year-old woman complained to Shin Min Daily News that last month, she helped her friend order 10 KFC meals through a food delivery platform. The woman claimed that her friend’s company was having a lunch gathering, and that she was the one who placed the order through the platform. 

Since the woman uses the platform more often, she did not check the app after seeing that someone had already accepted the order. She claimed: “The delivery time shown at the time was between 11:00 and 11:30. At 11:20, I received a message from a friend saying that the delivery person had sent him a message asking for a tip. Later, I found that the delivery person had also sent me a message asking for a tip through the Grab app.” 

According to the deliveryman, the order was too much. That’s why he asked for a tip. He also stated that if the tip was not given, the order could be cancelled and the woman could find another deliveryman to handle the order. 

Given that they had limited time and that the deliveryman had already picked up the order and was on his way, they had no choice but to give out the tip. The woman later confirmed that when she checked the app, she discovered that the delivery man was already near her friend’s company and chose not to deliver the food unless they agreed to the tip. 

“He only continued to deliver the food after my friend agreed,” the woman declared. 

She shared that the food arrived after 11:40, which was later than what they expected. According to Grab, tipping is voluntary, and drivers are explicitly told not to solicit tips from customers. 

It is encouraged that when drivers ask for a tip, customers can refuse and submit feedback to the platform. 

Other related news 

In similar news related to customer complaints, there was a recent report where a woman was nearly burned when a fire broke out at their table at a Korean hot pot restaurant. 

“When I bent down to look, I found thick smoke and flames coming out of the hole under the dining table, which scared me so much that I ran away quickly,” the diner declared. 

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Delivery man threatens to cancel ‘too big’ order unless customer gives S$10 tip) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police at KLIA Terminal 2 are investigating two sudden deaths within hours. A 27‑year‑old Chinese woman fell from a third‑floor ledge after resisting security efforts, later dying at Putrajaya Hospital. Hours later, a 30‑year‑old Algerian man fell near the same spot and was pronounced dead at Hospital Cyberjaya. Both incidents went viral online.

Netizens expressed concern over the incidents. For the Chinese woman, a viral video on X showed an auxiliary police officer attempting to assist her, but the approach startled her, leading to her fatal fall. In the Algerian man’s case, a photo of him circulated widely on X, further amplifying public attention and unease surrounding both tragedies.

Debates about the auxiliary police trying to help the woman were one of the top conversations among netizens. On X, one user stated that people should not blame the officer, as he was simply trying to help, also asking why the woman was sitting on the edge of the building after the balcony fencing. 

Others argued that the auxiliary police should have followed protocol more carefully, suggesting that approaching the woman directly was inappropriate and stressed that airport management must have a clear plan for handling such situations. They further added that safety measures, such as cloth or netting on lower floors, should be in place to prevent tragedies.

Concerning the Algerian man who also lost his life, X users voiced similar concerns. One urged airport management to implement stronger preventive measures, suggesting suicide nets like those installed in several Kuala Lumpur malls. He stressed that such safeguards are necessary to curb future incidents and emphasised that tragedies of this nature should never be allowed to happen again. 

Some netizens argued that such acts at the airport damage Malaysia’s reputation. Furthermore, this reflects a lack of empathy for those who died. One netizen stated that foreigners should not behave this way in Malaysia, adding that the government now faces the burden of covering funeral costs for the individuals involved.

It remains unclear why foreign nationals choose to end their lives at the airport. However, netizens increasingly view this as a serious concern, pointing to the apparent lack of clear procedures or preventive measures in handling such incidents.

This article (Tragedy at KLIA Terminal 2: Chinese woman and Algerian man’s fall sparks concerns) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Working daily has been part of everyday life for many. However, a Redditor shared online about the burdens of work and how working a government job has been driving her mad due to tiredness and lack of freedom. With this, the netizen is seeking comfort from others by asking: “Has anyone felt this way?” 

In the post, the netizen shared, “I work in a gov job, wfh 5 days a week, 8.30 – 6pm; including travel, I’m occupied basically from 7/7.15am to 7pm, and when I get home, I’m tired and drained and can barely do much or be in a super positive mood for my family. Isn’t this crazy? I’m meant to do this forever?” 

The netizen also shared to have started a new job but had already taken a few sick leaves after two months of employment because of too much anxiety. 

“What’s the point of chasing that when I could be free or find an easier or part-time job? Sure, I earn less, but I earn my freedom back? idk. I just feel kinda done with all this.” 

At the end, the netizen asked if someone could explain if everything was normal, and even asked for encouragement. 

Netizens then expressed their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions in the comments section. One commenter admitted to understanding what the netizen was going through and shared that the person has the power to change the situation. 

“I feel you totally.. Don’t feel bad, you are not alone.. But you can change this if you want, but it’s really up to you if you want to continue on this cycle.. I went through the same motion.. It’s super tiring and mentally excruciating,” the commenter remarked. 

For some, everything that the netizen shared was normal, and many people feel the same because it is part of adult life. One comment emphasised: “You lose a little bit of your spark every day, sometimes praise from peers or boss or monetary bonus helps bring the spark back up, but once hit zero = quit, start afresh. Rinse and repeat until you die.” 

Furthermore, a netizen suggested giving at least six months to settle in the new job, and claimed: “If you’re still in this rut after 6 months, you may be struggling with some professional or existential issues. You may want to consider if the job is what you want, or you may want to take some time off to figure out what you really want from life.” 

Others were concerned about mental health and also suggested that the netizen seek professional help. 

“Talking about it is important. Best if you can find a work friend in the same boat,” another comment stated. 

This thread openly shares how people feel tired at work and how many people struggle with the same things. In the end, the discussion is a reminder that it is normal to feel overwhelmed—and that it is okay to choose a life that feels more like living, not just surviving.

This article (Overworked and exhausted: ‘Has anyone felt this way?’ Netizen asks) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A home should be one’s safe place, but a neighbour encountered a traumatic experience when a man vandalised their house by splashing water and smashing windows twice in two weeks, allegedly without any cause. 

The victim is a 48-year-old man who lived in a unit on the 10th floor of a HDB block located in Balam Road, while the 45-year-old suspect lived downstairs. The suspect also previously pleaded guilty to three charges, including mischief, public nuisance, and violation of the Miscellaneous (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.

Case details 

As reported by Shin Min Daily News, further investigations revealed that on February 2, 2026, the victim found out that the walls and flower pots in the hallway outside his unit had been mysteriously splashed with water. With this, he reviewed his surveillance camera and discovered that his neighbour had poured a bucket of water on the walls, hallways, and flower pots outside his home. This prompted the victim to report the incident to the police. 

Two weeks later, on February 18, 2026, the suspect repeated his actions but now more aggressively. The suspect used a screwdriver to smash the victim’s window and left immediately. However, he did not stop there—he returned with a can of beer and poured it into the victim’s house. 

The victim also claimed that on January 6, 2026, he believed that someone had broken into his unit. The police stated that they found no evidence of forced entry, but they found a sign belonging to the police force on the victim’s door that read “Under Police Surveillance”. Unfortunately, when the police officers questioned the victim about where he got the sign, he was unable to provide a reasonable explanation, which violates the Miscellaneous (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. 

Other related news 

In similar news related to HDB complaints, there was a report where a family’s living room turned into a disaster zone when a built-in wardrobe suddenly collapsed, raising safety concerns.

On social media, a netizen shared their unfortunate experience, stating, “This wasn’t just furniture falling. It was a heavy structure installed inside a living space where our child plays every day. We were extremely lucky no one was injured.” 

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (Man jailed for three weeks after splashing water and smashing windows of neighbor’s home—Why did he do it?) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A lot of us walk into work pretending we’ve got everything under control. We act unbothered by impossible deadlines, toxic coworkers, and bosses who keep piling on more work. But the second we’re alone, all the stress we’ve been holding in comes pouring out.

Recently, one Singaporean woman confessed in a Reddit post that she’s been “crying every day” yet feels like she has no choice but to stay because of the dismal job market. 

The situation, she said, has been making her feel “super miserable.”

Having spent five years in the workforce, including two years at her current company, the woman said she never intended to aggressively climb the corporate ladder. In fact, she had already told her bosses that she was “happy in my current role and not looking to get promoted.” 

Despite this, she said new responsibilities continue being added to her workload, often without proper guidance or support.

“I have no proper support. Timelines are compressed, responsibilities are piling up. It’s making me super miserable, and I have to OT just to meet expectations. With the lack of support and constant scrutiny for screwing up in these new areas, I want to call it quits.”

“As much as I want to learn, it’s miserable to learn in such a manner. Is it wrong to just want the status quo for a year at least?” she wondered.

“Thank God I don’t have a looming BTO to pay for, but it doesn’t help that I don’t know when I’ll be employed next or whether I’ll have to work in the same industry again.”

The woman added that her colleagues are struggling just as much. “Everyone on the team is busy…. We are all in this together. I am seriously burnt out and lost. How do you all get through such days, and is this really the kind of economy where we can prioritise mental health?” she asked.

“The mental workload and suffering aren’t worth it.”

Her post struck a chord with many online users, who jumped in with messages of support and shared their own experiences to remind her she’s not alone in feeling this way.

One commenter wrote, “Are you me? Because I’m going through the same. Cry before work, during work, and while on my meal breaks, then back to the grind. I’m trying to find another job before leaving, but the market is cold.”

Another said, “Just to let you know that you’re not the only one feeling this way. I’m struggling and overloaded, and sometimes my tears just flowed while working. I’ve been sending resumes and praying I can leave this job ASAP. I know it can be difficult, but cheer up, and I hope that we can escape from this [job] soon!”

Some commenters, meanwhile, urged her to consider quitting for the sake of her mental health.

One told her, “Quit. The mental workload and suffering aren’t worth it, and it’s a vicious cycle because this affects how you think and plan your career/life with calmness and clarity.”

Another added, “If you can, just quit; else go home on time every day and have something to look forward to, like cooking or gaming. Don’t bother with the OT, take care of your own health first.”

In other news, a man has found himself in an unexpected dispute after his ex-fiancée insisted he reimburse her S$15,000 in cash for the CPF downpayment she lost when their BTO application was cancelled.

Hoping to find some guidance, he posted on the r/asksg subreddit on Tuesday (Apr 28). 

In his post, he explained that he had been in a relationship with his ex-fiancée for five years before they called off their wedding plans. He also noted that he had already returned her share of the wedding banquet and vendor expenses.

Read more: Man says ex-fiancée demanded S$15k after BTO cancellation: ‘She wants the downpayment back’

This article (‘I cry every day’: Worker says burnout and lack of support are taking a toll) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A 27-year-old Singaporean says he’s now willing to accept a salary between S$2,500 and S$3,000 just to “get something on his resume.” It’s not exactly the dream, but at this point, he just wants to start somewhere.

In a social media post, he shared that he graduated in 2023 and, somehow, is still without a full-time job today, unlike many of his peers who have already moved on and settled into their careers. Watching that happen from the sidelines has not been easy.

“I get jealous seeing my friends,” he admitted. “Is anyone else going through the same thing? Fellow Singaporeans, do you think the job market is pretty bad?”

He was quick to stress that he hasn’t been “picky.” In fact, he said he has been applying to “everything and anything related” to his field of study, casting his net as wide as possible. Unfortunately, nothing has stuck.

“I either get a call and then get ghosted, or I don’t hear back from the company at all,” he said. “I get one to four interviews every month, and it’s getting frustrating.”

Still, despite everything, he said he’s thankful to have some income coming in from helping with the family business and running a small home-based bakery on the side.

Expert says Gen Z applicants need better resumes

The state of the job market for Gen Z has been talked about loads online. Endless articles have been churned out, and there’s a steady stream of job seekers on local forums laying it all bare, admitting just how much the whole ordeal has messed with their mental health. 

At the same time, there’s been plenty of chatter about how younger people are quietly abandoning the traditional career path their parents swore by and drifting towards the gig economy instead.

Still, while some have more or less thrown their hands up and resigned themselves to never finding stable work, others are still stubbornly pushing on, CV in hand, hoping for the best.

Which then leaves the slightly exhausting question: how do you actually stand out in all this chaos?

Jeannie Kim, a former vice president of content at Policygenius, digital executive, and journalist, shared in a CNBC article that she’s reviewed over 1,000 resumes. Drawing from that experience, she offered a few practical bits of advice for job seekers trying to make theirs stand out:

Be specific

Instead of just listing tasks or responsibilities from internships, Kim says job seekers should go a step further and include actual results from their work, ideally with numbers.

She encourages them to talk about the “impact” they’ve had in the organisations they’ve worked in.

Tailor your resume

Kim advises job seekers to stop sending the same CV to every job and instead tailor it for each role. 

This means tweaking your resume so your skills and experience match what the job is actually looking for.

Be concise

Kim also says it’s important not to go overboard. Jobseekers, she explains, should focus on including only relevant information tied to the role and highlighting “their biggest achievement.”

Read also: ‘She wants me to pay for the whole house and lifestyle’: Man questions girlfriend’s intentions

This article (‘It’s getting frustrating’: Jobseeker says he’ll take S$2.5-S$3k pay just to ‘get something on his resume’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.